Height adjusting structure with directly communicating airbags

ABSTRACT

A height adjusting structure with directly communicating airbags includes at least two airbags, where the airbags each receive and retain therein an elastic body. One of the airbags includes an air control unit connected thereto for controlling air filling and discharge of the airbags. The airbags are provided, in surfaces thereof that opposes each other, with corresponding passage holes and joint sections formed around circumferences of the passage holes. The joint sections are jointed so that the airbags are directly connected with no additional medium between the airbags and allowing the airbags to share the same air control unit to achieve flowability of air between the airbags, whereby advantages of efficient air filling and discharge of the airbags, being easy to manufacture, and reducing manufacture costs can be achieved.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a division of the co-pending patent application Ser. No.14/382,761, filed Nov. 25, 2014.

(a) TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to an height adjustingstructure, and more particularly to a height adjusting structure withdirectly communicating airbags that comprises airbags arranged to allowair contained therein to flow therebetween so as to achieve advantagesof fast filling and discharge of air, easy manufacture, and reduction ofmanufacture costs.

(b) DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Modern people are generally physically inactive and do have takesufficient exercise in various situations, such as working in offices,using computers, playing video gains, watching television, and otheroccasions, when people often forget to stand up and take some exerciseto stretch and move their bodies so that they have stayed in a constantposture, such as sitting, lying, or resting, for a long period of time.Although people realize they need to stand up and moves their bodiesafter having been sit, lain, or rested for a long period of time toprompt blood circulation and consume calorie, due to often being sodevoted themselves to work and games or simply because of bad personalhabits, most of the people do not stand up and move constantly. As aconsequence, an increase of body weight and relaxation and crash-down ofhips may result. Further, sitting, lying, and resting for a long periodof time may often result in improper and incorrect posture, which causemodern diseases, such as backaches.

Products, such as pillows and mates, or patented techniques, whichprovide functions of supporting and shaping, are available for people torest thereon with specific portions. Some of these products provide afunction of adjustment of height and softness. However, those productsof pillows or mats or patented techniques are generally very complicatedin structure and do not allow for simultaneous adjustment of height,softness, and shapability, making them imperfect in respect of humanengineering. Thus, the present inventor has provided various products ofheight adjustable devices and mats including the height adjustabledevices that overcome the drawbacks of the conventional products ofpillows and mats and the know patented techniques and has alsomanufactured and commercialized products of mats of these kinds.

The height adjustable devices and products thereof that have beenprovided by the present inventor are structured by comprising multipleairbags that receive and contain therein internally arranged elasticbodies, wherein height adjustment can be achieved by air filled intoand/or discharged from the airbags to allow, in a condition where a userrests thereon, a surface thereof to completely comply with the portionof the user in contact therewith for various postures that the user maytake. However, the following drawbacks exist and the structure andfunctionality thereof are not perfect:

(1) Airbags, which are used in multiplicity, are each controlled by anexternal air control unit for air filling and discharge, so that whenthe number of the airbags used is increased, the number of the aircontrol units used is also increased. Since airtightness is a vitalfactor of the airbags, the manufacture will be difficult and themanufacture cost is high.

(2) The airbags are connected with hoses extending therebetween as acommunication medium for air flowability therebetween. This makes themanufacture difficult and also increases the manufacture cost.

(3) Since the airbags require the additionally included hoses as acommunication medium for connection and air flowabilith therebetween,the flow paths of air flows are extended and the efficiency of airfilling and discharge of the airbags is lowered, leading toinconvenience of an operation for height adjustment.

Based on the concept of constant improvement and innovation of productsand for the purposes of making mats more widely applicable, allowing foreasy use by users, the present invention aims to provide a heightadjusting structure with directly communicating airbags, of whichdetails will be given below.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a height adjustingstructure with directly communicating airbags that allows for efficientfilling and discharge of air.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a height adjustingstructure with directly communicating airbags that achieves theadvantages of easy manufacture and reduction of manufacture costs.

To achieve the above objects, the present invention provides a solutionas follows:

A height adjusting structure with directly communicating airbagscomprises at least two airbags. The airbags each have an interior inwhich an elastic body is received, wherein one of airbags comprises anair control unit mounted thereto for controlling air filling anddischarge of the airbags. The airbags comprise passage holesrespectively formed in surfaces thereof that oppose each other and jointsections respectively formed around circumferences of the passage holes.The joint sections are jointed to each other so that the airbags aredirectly connected to each other.

The elastic body comprises a foamed material.

The elastic body comprises foamed sponge.

The height adjusting structure with directly communicating airbags isreceived and retained in a mat.

The height adjusting structure with directly communicating airbags isreceived and retained in a neck cushion.

The height adjusting structure with directly communicating airbags isreceived and retained in a pillow.

The height adjusting structure with directly communicating airbags isreceived and retained in an envelope.

The height adjusting structure with directly communicating airbags isreceived and retained in a rest cushion.

With the above arrangement, the height adjusting structure with directlycommunicating airbags is such that by means of direct connection betweenairbags, air contained in the airbags is allowed to flow therebetweendirectly so that the airbags can be efficiently filled with air orallowing for efficient discharge of air therefrom, helping improve theconvenience and ease of conducting a height adjustment operation.Further, with the airbags being directly connected to each other, thepresent invention requires no additional medium (such as air hose) torealize the connection and the airbags need only one air control unitshared therebetween to achieve air filling and discharge, so thatadvantages of being easy to manufacture and reducing manufacture costscan be achieved.

The foregoing objectives and summary provide only a brief introductionto the present invention. To fully appreciate these and other objects ofthe present invention as well as the invention itself, all of which willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art, the following detaileddescription of the invention and the claims should be read inconjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the specificationand drawings identical reference numerals refer to identical or similarparts.

Many other advantages and features of the present invention will becomemanifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to thedetailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which apreferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of thepresent invention is shown by way of illustrative example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the present invention in aheight-reduced condition.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the present invention in aheight-raised condition.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a second preferred embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the second embodiment of the presentinvention in a height-reduced condition.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the second embodiment of the presentinvention in a height-raised condition.

FIGS. 7-10 are schematic views illustrating different arrangements ofairbags that are received in mats according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an exploded view of a third preferred embodiment of thepresent invention arranged in a mat.

FIG. 12 is a top plan view of FIG. 11.

FIGS. 13 and 14 are schematic view illustrating a use of the mat of thethird preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is an exploded view of a fourth preferred embodiment of thepresent invention arranged in a neck cushion.

FIG. 16 is a top plan view of the neck cushion of FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 is a schematic view illustrating a use of the neck cushion ofFIG. 15.

FIG. 18 is a schematic view illustrating a user of the neck cushion ofFIG. 15 as a prone-lying pillow.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a fifth preferred embodiment of thepresent invention arranged in a pillow.

FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a use of the pillow ofFIG. 19.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of a sixth preferred embodiment of thepresent invention arranged in an envelope.

FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a user of the envelope ofFIG. 21.

FIG. 23 is perspective view of a seventh preferred embodiment of thepresent invention arranged in a rest cushion.

FIG. 24 is a schematic view illustrating a user of the rest cushion ofFIG. 23.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following descriptions are exemplary embodiments only, and are notintended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of theinvention in any way. Rather, the following description provides aconvenient illustration for implementing exemplary embodiments of theinvention. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made inthe function and arrangement of the elements described without departingfrom the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the present invention provides a heightadjusting structure with directly communicating airbags 1, of which apreferred embodiment comprises a plurality of airbags 10, 20 and an aircontrol unit 30 that controls air filling and discharge of the airbags10, 20 in order to allow the airbags 10, 20 to conduct adjustments inrespect of height, softness, and shapability. A detailed descriptionwill be given below:

The airbags 10, 20 are structured to be of suitable deformability andeach receives and retains therein an elastic body 11, 21. The elasticbodies 11, 21 can be made of any elastic materials, such as foamedmaterials, including foam sponges, foamed plastics, and foamed rubbers,and a foam sponge is taken as an example in the instant embodiment. Theairbag 20 is stacked on the air pocket 10 and the airbags 10, 20 aremade in communication with each other.

The air control unit 30 is mounted to the airbag 10 and comprises a hoseand a valve. The valve may be opened when compressed and may be closedwhen the compression is removed so that a user may use the air controlunit 30 to control the supply of external air into the airbags 10, 20for inflation thereof (see FIG. 3) or to release the air when theairbags 10, 20 are compressed (see FIG. 2). Further, the elastic bodies11, 21 help expansion and/or contraction so as to help adjust theheight, softness, and shapability of the airbags 10, 20. After theadjustment of the height, softness, and shapability of the airbags 10,20, the interiors thereof may be kept in a predetermined pressurecondition.

An essence of the present invention is that the airbags 10, 20 arerespectively provided, in surfaces thereof that oppose each other (whereoverlapping and bonding are applied), with corresponding passage holes12, 22 and joint sections 13, 23 around circumferences of the passageholes 12, 22 and the joint section 13, 23 are jointed, where theoperation applied for the jointing may be thermal fusion and pressingjoint or adhesive bonding, so that the airbags 10, 20 are directlyconnected together with air contained in the airbags 10, 20 to directlyflow therebetween.

Referring to FIG. 2, to use the present invention, with the air controlunit 30 being compressed and opened, when the airbags 10, 20 and theelastic bodies 11, 21 are compressed by an external force (such as beingpressed down by a hand or a head of a user) to contract, a portion ofthe air contained in the airbag 20 and the elastic body 21 flows throughthe passage holes 22, 12 into the airbag 10 and then flow through theairbag 10 and discharge through air control unit 30. If, under thiscondition, the air control unit 30 is closed, not to allow air to enter,then the interiors of the airbags 10, 20 are kept in a predeterminedcondition of pressure, where a negative pressure persists to inducesuction that makes the airbags 10, 20 attached to surfaces of theelastic bodies 11, 21, so that the overall height of the airbags 10, 20is in a reduced condition.

Referring to FIG. 3, to use the present invention, with the air controlunit 30 being compressed and opened, external air is allowed to flowthrough the air control unit 30 into the airbags 10, 20 and due to thepenetration of air, the elastic body 11, 21 may get self-expanded tothereby expand the airbags 10, 20, whereby the overall height of theairbags 10, 20 is in a raised condition.

It is noted here that, as observed from FIGS. 2 and 3, by means ofdirect connection between the airbags 10, 20, the present inventionallows for direct communication of air contained in the airbags 10, 20for flowing therebetween so that the airbags 10, 20 can be efficientlyfilled with air or allowing for efficient discharge of air therefrom,helping improve the convenience and ease of conducting a heightadjustment operation. Further, with the airbags 10, 20 being directlyconnected to each other, the present invention requires no additionalmedium (such as air hose) to realize the connection and the airbags 10,20 need only one air control unit 30 shared therebetween to achieve airfilling and discharge, so that advantages of being easy to manufactureand reducing manufacture costs can be achieved.

Referring to FIGS. 4, 5, and 6, a second embodiment of the presentinvention is shown, where, if desired, an additional air pocket 40 thatreceive and container therein an elastic body 41 can be further stackedon the airbag 20. The airbags 20, 40 are respectively provided insurfaces thereof that oppose each other, with corresponding passageholes 24, 42 and joint sections 25, 43 around circumferences of thepassage holes 24, 42 and the joint section 13, 23 are jointed so thatthe airbags 40, 20 are directly connected together with air contained inthe airbags 40, 20, 10 to directly flow therebetween through directcommunication.

It is noted here that the second embodiment illustrates one additionalair pocket stacked on the airbag 20 as an illustrative example; however,it is apparent that, if desired, there may be more than one additionalairbags stacked on the airbag 20, or additionally or alternatively, morethan one additional air pocket (not shown) is arranged to be stackedunder the airbag 10, both arrangements allowing air to directly flowamong the plurality of airbags.

Referring to FIGS. 7-10, the height adjusting structure with directlycommunicating airbags 1 according to the present invention may bearranged in a mat 50, so that, besides receiving a specific portion ofthe body of a user to rest thereon, the mat 50 also allows foradjustments of height, softness, and shapability thereof. The airbagsillustrated in each of these drawings can be made in various sizes andshapes according to needs, or the airbags can be added in a flexiblemanner and arranged in any desired fashion and combination.

Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, a third preferred embodiment of thepresent invention comprises a plurality of air pocket height adjustingstructures 1 a, 1 b, 1 c. The air pocket height adjusting structures 1a, 1 b, 1 c can be arranged in a mat 60. The mat 60 comprises a topsection 61 that receives a user to sit thereon and provides desiredaesthetic decoration and a bottom section 62 arranged at a lower side.

The air pocket height adjusting structures 1 a, 1 b, 1 c illustrated inthe drawings are arranged in a U-shape to conform to the configurationof the mat 60, wherein the air pocket height adjusting structure 1 ccomprises airbags 10 c, 20 c that are stacked vertically and are incommunication with each other and the airbags 10 c is connected by aconnection hose 30 c to an air control unit 30 b of the air pocketheight adjusting structure 1 b so that the air pocket height adjustingstructure 1 c requires no air control unit and is controlled by the aircontrol unit 30 b for air filling and discharge.

Referring to FIGS. 13 and 14, the mat 60 can be used to receive a usersit thereon so as to support and shape the hips of the user to maintaina good siting posture of the user. The mat 60, which comprises the airpocket height adjusting structures 1 a, 1 b, 1 c, also allows foradjustments of height, softness, and shapability.

Referring to FIGS. 15 and 16, a fourth preferred embodiment of thepresent invention also comprises a plurality of air pocket heightadjusting structures 1 a, 1 b, 1 c that is arranged to form a U-shapeand is received and retained in a U-shaped neck cushion 70, wherein theair pocket height adjusting structure 1 a may comprise an additionalairbag 40 a stacked on the stacked airbags 10 a, 20 a to meet therequirement for a desired configuration of the neck cushion 70.

Referring to FIG. 17, the neck cushion 70 can be fit over the neck of auser to provide support and protection to the head when the user issleeping. The neck cushion 70, which comprises the air pocket heightadjusting structures 1 a, 1 b, 1 c, allows for adjustments of height,softness, and shapability.

Referring to FIG. 18, the neck cushion 70 is also positionable on adesktop to allow the head of a user to place thereon for lying prone soas to serve as a prone-lying pillow. The neck cushion 70 may thus spacethe head of the user from the hands so that the head does not compressthe hands during the prone lying. The neck cushion 70, which comprisesthe air pocket height adjusting structures 1 a, 1 b, 1 c, allows foradjustments of height, softness, and shapability.

Referring to FIGS. 19 and 20, a fifth preferred embodiment of thepresent invention provides a height adjusting structure with directlycommunicating airbags 1, which is usable in such a way that two suchstructures are received and embedded in a pillow 80 to support, in acompliant manner, the head, the neck, and the shoulders of the user whenthe user is sleeping. The pillow 80, which comprises the heightadjusting structure with directly communicating airbags 1, allows foradjustments of height, softness, and shapability.

Referring to FIGS. 21 and 22, a sixth preferred embodiment of thepresent invention provides a height adjusting structure with directlycommunicating airbags 1, which is usable in such a way that two suchstructures are received and embedded in an envelope 91 and the envelope91 comprises a strap 92 for attaching to a regular pillow 90 so as tosupport, in a compliant manner, the head, the neck, and the shoulders ofthe user when the user is sleeping. The envelope 91, which comprises theheight adjusting structure with directly communicating airbags 1, allowsfor adjustments of height, softness, and shapability.

Referring to FIGS. 23 and 24, a seventh preferred embodiment of thepresent invention provides a height adjusting structure with directlycommunicating airbags 1, which is usable in such a way that two suchstructures are received and embedded in a rest cushion 93 to providesupport to the back of a user when the user takes a sitting posture soas to keep a good sitting posture for the user. The rest cushion 93,which comprises the height adjusting structure with directlycommunicating airbags 1, allows for adjustments of height, softness, andshapability.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or twoor more together may also find a useful application in other types ofmethods differing from the type described above.

While certain novel features of this invention have been shown anddescribed and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is not intendedto be limited to the details above, since it will be understood thatvarious omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the formsand details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be madeby those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spiritof the present invention.

I claim:
 1. A height adjusting structure with directly communicatingairbags, characterized by comprising at least two airbags, the airbagseach having an interior in which an elastic body is received, whereinone of airbags comprises an air control unit mounted thereto forcontrolling air filling and discharge of the airbags, the airbagscomprising passage holes respectively formed in surfaces of the airbagsthat oppose each other and joint sections respectively formed aroundcircumferences of the passage holes, the joint sections being jointed toeach other, the airbags being directly connected to each other, theheight adjusting structure with directly communicating airbags beingreceived and retained in a mat.